Kelsey C. Ames, 70, of Waterloo, died at Friendship Village Health Center Monday, July 4, 2016 from a brain tumor. He was born June 5, 1946 in Oelwein, son of Howard and Thelma Chapman Ames.

Kelsey married Rebecca Yeager on September 4, 1965; she died December 27, 1994. He married Elaine Taylor May 10, 1997.

He graduated from Oelwein High School in 1963, Gates Business College, and John Deere Maintenance Apprentice School. Kelsey worked at John Deere for 33 years, 22 of those years as Supervisor of Machine Repair/Rebuild Overhaul Floor, retiring in 1999. In 2003, he started Chapin and Ames Home Building, retiring in 2014.

Kelsey was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where he was an Elder and Deacon.

Kelsey loved what he did in business…building. He enjoyed helping people like shoveling their sidewalks or mowing lawns. He especially loved being around family, his grandkids and his extended family.

He is survived by his wife Elaine of Waterloo, son Darin (Nicole) Ames of Cambridge, MA, son Troy (Liz) Ames of Waterloo, stepdaughter Christina (Brent) Gilmore of Waterloo, stepson Bradley Chapin of Evansdale, seven grandchildren: Tyler, Ariel, Alexis, Samantha, Cetara, Joshua, and Nicholas, great-granddaughter Kennedy, his brother Clair Ames of Columbia, MO and an aunt Isabelle Ames of Evansdale.

Kelsey is preceded in death by his first wife, Rebecca and a brother, Lyle.